[DEV] Live Minneapolis - Saint Paul

The Loring Park neighborhood is a bicyclist & pedestrian paradise with easy access to bicycle trails, a 15 minute walk to the downtown and uptown areas, and excellent public transportation.

The neighborhood’s character, history, architecture, location, park, and green space are the top most important features that make Loring Park a ”Livable Place” according to a community survey taken in preparation for the future.

Ensuring an active social & cultural life, the neighborhood is dotted with a wide range of ethnic restaurants, entertainment, retail shops, businesses, and six of the cities’ largest and most historic churches, The Woman's Club of Minneapolis, MCTC College, Metropolitan State University, Dunwoody Institute, University of St. Thomas—Minneapolis Campus, and the Walker Art Center & Sculpture Garden, and within a short walking distance the Minneapolis Art Institute, the theater district, and Orchestra Hall.

The neighborhood crowning jewel is Loring Park, connected to Nicollet Mall by the Loring Greenway. It is the neighborhood’s focal point for many festivals, films & concerts, recreational & community building activities, and offering a delightful place to take a stroll around the lake & beautiful gardens, and most recently a dog park.

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Boundaries and Zip Code

Loring Park is located on the southwest edge of downtown Minneapolis.

North: 12th Street & the I-394 downtown connector
South: I-94
East: I-35W
West: Lyndale/Hennepin Avenue corridor

Zip code: 55403

History

Surveys conducted in the early 19th Century out of Fort Snelling identified significant geological features of the area now know as the Loring Park Neighborhood; a long ridge running east & west about one mile south of St Anthony Falls referred to as “The Devil's Ridge” and a tamarack bog located at the base of the ridge.

In 1855 Joseph Johnson established a farm on the edge of the wetlands, & 25 years later the tamarack bog was carved up & carted away to become “Central Park” which was renamed in honor of the first Superintendent of Minneapolis' new park system, Charles Loring.

The Devil's Backbone formed a natural backdrop for the city, & with its excellent vista of the rapidly growing metropolis, the land around the park naturally attracted the Minneapolis' wealthy upper-class to build many fine brick homes and mansions, which were split up into smaller apartment to help cope with the housing shortage which continued past the Second World War.

Housing Styles and Types

With tree lined streets the neighborhood housing primarily consists of apartment & condominium complexes ranging in price from low-income Section 8 apartments to expensive luxury condominiums.

Turn-of-the-century brick walk-up apartments, large stone & brick mansions, and apartment-hotels that have been converted into small apartments & more recent moderate to luxury condominiums provide an intimate and friendly neighborhood.

More information can be found at www.loringpark.org , click on the 10 year action plan, & go to page 8.

Schools

Public Schools:

• Emerson Spanish Learning Center (K-8)

Charter Schools:

• Fraser Academy (K-5)

Higher Education:

• Minneapolis Community and Technical College
• Metropolitan State University
• Dunwoody Institute
• University of St. Thomas—Minneapolis Campus,

For more information on Minneapolis schools, visit Live MSP's Schools page.

Public Facilities

• Loring Park
• Loring Park Community Arts Center
• District 202—provides social, cultural and educational opportunities by and for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth, and their allied friends 21 and under.
• Loring Greenway

Home Purchase/Home Improvement Incentives

For more information about other incentive programs that may be available in this neighborhood, visit Live MSP’s Incentive Programs page. [link to internal page].

Getting Involved

• Citizens for Loring Park Community (www.loringpark.org) provides a voice for the neighborhood to realize a more harmonious, thriving, and beautiful community.

• Friends of Loring Park (www.friendsofloringpark.org) collaborates with the Minneapolis Park Board to preserve & improve the park.

• Loring Business Association (http://www.loringdowntown.com) devoted to enhancing the economic vitality of the Loring area by promoting & supporting area businesses.

News

News and events are available at the Citizens for Loring Park Community website: www.loringpark.org

Statistics

• City of Minneapolis Neighborhood Profile—Includes trend information on neighborhood demographics, economics, and housing, taken from the most recent census data
• Home Sales Information by Neighborhood—The City of Minneapolis Assessor’s Office allows you to search home sale prices by neighborhood. You choose the time frame that you want to compare (e.g. 1/1/2006 – 12/31/2008.)
• Minneapolis Crime Statistics—Crime maps, statistics, and reports compiled by the Minneapolis Police Department. Check out Interpreting Crime Statistics. to help you make sense of these resources.

Real Estate Listings

Search Realtor.com for listings. You can search for properties by either clicking on the map or entering the neighborhood name or zip code (noting that zip code boundaries span multiple neighborhoods) into the search bar.

OwnAHomeMN.org—Check here for listings of affordable homes sold by community developers. Note: not all neighborhoods have listings.

Contacts

Citizens for Loring Park Community (CLPC)
Jana Metge, Executive Coordinator
Phone: 612-874-9002
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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